On a bitterly cold morning we set off from the Keyhaven carpark to walk round the sea wall and back down the Ancient Highway.
We saw several raptors,
Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Peregrine and Kestrel.
Male Kestrel hovering © Chris Robinson
It was a high tide, pushing waders up onto the lagoons. On Keyhaven Lagoon the highlight was two Spoonbills refusing to show their bills.
Spoonbills, Keyhaven Lagoon © Chris Robinson
There was a surprising number of Reed Buntings around, probably up to 20, feeding on the path and in the hedges either side. We regularly walk this route and these were the first Reed Buntings we have seen for months, several had rings on but you can’t read them on the photos that I took.
Reed Bunting - male moulting into breeding plumage © Chris Robinson
By the time we got to Fishtail we were very cold with the north wind blowing into our faces causing our eyes to water and making IDs quite difficult. There were quite a number of Snipe around, mostly out in the open feeding amongst the Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits. All the winter ducks were present and a high count of Brent Geese.
Common Snipe feeding at Fishtail Lagoon © Chris Robinson
A couple of people heard and
saw a Dartford Warbler and RS (with his scope) spotted Red-breasted Mergansers offshore.
The walk back to the cars
was brisk (did I say it was cold?), but the bird count was high which cheered
us up no end! CR